Ok... so... in the past, I've gotten recommendations that I shouldn't have many carbs when I eat breakfast. So... I've gone away from the cereal, oatmeal, and whole grain bread. The problem is... I've eaten more since then. I've been more hungry throughout the morning.
I had a 1 cup of oatmeal this morning, and a cup of coffee (with like... half a tablespoon of milk in it)... and I was FULL. If I have this kind of meal again tomorrow, I'd decrease it to half a cup. I'm halfway through the morning, and haven't craved a single thing.
So... is it OK for my breakfast to be my carb meal? I don't really want breads or anything during the rest of the day, mainly fruits, vegetables, and maybe some chicken. But not breads or grains... but in the morning, I have been staring at the oatmeal and whole grain cheerios and practically drooling...
I've always told people that if they love carbs (as I do) to make sure they're whole grains, and to have them mainly at breakfast (it's important to also have some protein with every meal also). My main reasoning for this is that the brain runs primarily off of glucose. So by having your main dose of carbs for the day at breakfast your actually fueling your brain.
Some examples would be whole grain toast or bagel with a smear of peanut butter, a banana and yogurt, high protein cereal with soy milk and fruit, old fashioned oatmeal with fruit and a yogurt, etc.
I'm sure the others can chime in. Most of the reasoning against having a carb-heavy breakfast is mainly because carbs don't keep you full as long as protein. But by combining the two, you get the best of both worlds.
oatmeal really is the super breakfast! I would stay away from the packaged stuff though. Have plain old fashioned oatmeal topped with a cup of strawberries!
I agree, the main reason people usually give when they caution others away from eating carbs for breakfast is that they don't keep *some* people as full. This is certainly not true for everyone. The ideal breakfast for me is my 3/4 cup of fiber one cereal. It definitely keeps me full! I do sort of tend to have some rules for myself. Ex) I eat dinner pretty early, at 6, and I'm usually up past midnight. Because of this, I make sure that I have some significant form of protein for dinner every night.
I think that this is really a personal choice. I mean, the fiber one cereal keeps me full (maybe because it has a lot of fiber and complex carbs?), but yogurt with a lot of sugar (and simple carbs) doesn't keep me full quite as long. So for me, what kind of a carb it is definitely matters.
As far as your breakfast goes, if you are worried about being hungry soon after, as Ann21 has said, choose carbs that are whole grain (complex carbs) because these are broken down into glucose more slowly than simple carbs, which should keep you fuller longer. Other than that, I definitely see nothing wrong with some oatmeal for breakfast, especially if you've tried it and it works for you!
You have to figure out what works for you. Every person is different. If you are doing a low carb diet then the oatmeal is right out but otherwise, do what works for you.
I adore oatmeal - real steel cut oats are just yummy. I make them overnight in the crockpot. However, I'm one of those people who is hungry a hour after I have a nice big bowl of oatmeal. Or any other carby breakfast. They just don't stick with me.
But that's me. If it works for you then keep doing it. You do need some protein too - drink some milk, have some peanut butter. Or an egg.
It's ok to do whatever works for you as long as you are happy and losing weight. I'm really starting to get annoyed by shoulds and shouldn'ts when it comes to dieting and I'm guilty of giving them, but as long as you are healthy, happy and losing weight do whatever works for you.
Thanks guys. yeah... my mom is on an all-natural all-health food kick at the moment... nothing she gets has preservatives in it. All are the healthy stuff. I don't get prepackaged oats... well... maybe they are. They're quaker oats... that big container thingie... BIG oats... never seen them that big before. And I don't put anything on them... just milk to make them mushy.
And when I have toast, either it's the whole grain bread toasted (two slices), and that's it, but sometimes I'll put butter on one or both slices... but never anything else. I don't like sweet things in the morning (like fruit, yogurt, etc)... and that's pretty much all I've been getting lately because I was trying to back away from the grains and stuff...
I hate eggs... Any other way to get protein? I do sometimes have a sausage with my toast... not link sausage... the patty type. Not sure of the brand... I'll go look later. I do drink milk, I drink it just plain, in my coffee... and in my oatmeal. But is that enough to get the protein? Or... what?
Carbs aren't bad. You need some carbs. You also need protein, fat etc. The best advice is to eat complex carbs..whole grains instead of processed. The closer it is to the natural state, the bulkier it is, and my opinion ius that the more natural, the more filling because it takes longer to digest than it does if it's already been processed to halfway there. Oatmeal is a really good choice. Add some protein, like the others said. You could use some nuts, a lw fat or non fat flavored yogurt, or even plain yogurt and some blueberries or strawberries.
I too like the Fiber One cereal because it is the best calorie bargain of all the boxed cereals. I add plain lowfat yogurt and sometimes a tablespoon or two of flavored fat free creamer or splenda. I usually have it as my evening snack when I get my urges to eat because it is bulky and good for me.
Oh, and you dont' have to have "breakfast" for breakfast. You can have a slice of whole grain bread with turkey or ham. Or a piece of grilled chicken or fish and some veg. Think outside the box and eat what you like as long as it isn't junk!
I agree with everyone, There are no hard rules about what is appropriate for you to eat. As long as you are making healthy food choices, it is really up to you to find what "works"
As for breakfast protein, do you like peanut butter or any other nut butter? My typical breakfast is two small pieces of whole grain toast with 1 Tbsp of light peanut butter. Without the nut butter, I would be starving in an hour. The combination of fiber, carbs, healthy fat and protein keeps me going until lunch for only 205 calories. Of course everybody is different though. If you do use nut butters, be sure to measure a tablespoon serving because the calories, although healthy, can add up fast
Turkey bacon is quite good as well and it is usually pre-cooked so you can just heat it up in the microwave. Cottage cheese with fruit is another good source of protein. Even leftover meat from last night's dinner can work in a pinch
It's great to hear that your mom is on a health food kick. It will allow you to make better choices because the food will be available to you. Some teens really struggle when the family is not on board with their diet. I wish you the best!
Last edited by sweetnlow28; 05-21-2010 at 09:53 AM.
Reason: spelling
Carbful Breakfast?
yeah... my mom is on an all-natural all-health food kick at the moment... nothing she gets has preservatives in it. All are the healthy stuff. I don't get prepackaged oats... well... maybe they are. They're quaker oats... that big container thingie... BIG oats... never seen them that big before. 
